Legendz

What happens when you’re the first artist out of New Jersey to make noise in the hip-hop game in years? You battle your way to the top. Your buzz is crazy. And you seem to be a breath of fresh air for a struggling industry. Well of course, you go on to sign a multi-million dollar deal with one of the hottest hip-hop labels around. Your life should be set at this point right? Well this is the story of Serius Jones and the answer is no.

After signing to hip-hop superstar Ludacris’ DTP Records all seemed well until Serius noticed he wasn’t getting the attention he deserved. The man did have millions of eyes on him from his hard work. One would assume he would be a priority right? Serius didn’t seem to think so and was one of about nine artists to be dropped from the label. The rumors swirled like crazy. Why did they drop Serius and not Willy Northpole?

Did Serius get dropped because of his bad attitude? The only ones who know the real answers are Ludacris and Serius. Serius is now back on his independent grind and picking up right where he left off. Sixshot.Com sat adown with Serius Jones to discuss why he left DTP, being independent again, and his upcoming projects.

Sixshot.com: All right Serius tell u s why you left DTP.

Serius Jones: DTP and Def Jam had a rocky relationship. DTP wasn’t performing how Def Jam wanted to with the 13 acts they had signed. It got to a point where DTP had a showcase for Def Jam and they were kind of disgusted at that point. All the artists got dropped except for maybe two or three. I’m a guy who has millions of people who know my name and I need a certain amount of attention, which I wasn’t getting. I didn’t feel like a priority.

Sixshot.com: Did you ever feel at home at Disturbing Tha Peace?

Serius Jones: (Laughs) I mean a six-figure check can make you feel at home anywhere. Home is a relative thing. I got a home but I need a home for my music and my career. I wasn’t getting the right attention in terms of my project and it just got to a point where I felt like I had to get out of there. A label is there to help with your project and your exposure but I was doing most of the work. The only thing I had from them was a budget. The budget is cool but if you don’t have that push then what’s the point?

Sixshot.com: Did you have to participate in that showcase?

Serius Jones: Nah, I heard about it but I already wanted out. I think it was only for R&B acts anyway.

Sixshot.com: So you wanted out anyway at that point?

Serius Jones: Yeah man, I feel like a rap star and people weren’t showing me that they had the will and the determination to push my project. They didn’t want to pay attention and give that push. I’m not in this to be a failure. People who are around me know that everything I do I mostly win. I’m not trying to lose.

Sixshot.com: So what’s the situation now in terms of labels and what not?

Serius Jones: I’m independent now. I’m independent but I got a lot of labels coming to the table and making offers. I’m working a lot. I shot about five videos. I shot a short film called Life is Serius. I got three or four albums recorded. I mean basically my shit is just taking off. Right now I’m bigger than I’ve ever been. Right now people think I’m the underdog and that I’m not going to win. I may be the underdog but I am going to win. I learned a lot of things the hard way. You might be somewhere and think that you’re going to get the proper attention. You might think that you’re a priority but you’re not. I need to be a priority and I need to have people that are going to be focused.

Sixshot.com: Are you thinking about staying independent or going to another major or what?

Serius Jones:I mean there are definitely a few majors who I’m talking to now but I’m releasing a few projects independently. I’m not dependent on a major. I’m doing things on the independent route. That’ll always be a mainstay in my career regardless because I got a lot accomplished independently. I been through the battling and the Fight Klub and all that. Ma and my publicist, shout out to Dove are going crazy getting in magazines all over the country and overseas as well in places like Paris. It would be crazy to go into a situation again where somebody else holds my career in their hands and not keep my independent spirit and grind up. It’s better for me like this instead of just sitting back. We’re getting a lot done from the short film to the TV show we’re shopping around. We got a lot going on. I’m not going to wait on some big label to decide if it’s time to get it. Even if they do get it, it doesn’t matter because you already did it.

Sixshot.com: I want to address a rumor.

Serius Jones: Go ahead.

Sixshot.com: A lot of people were saying since they kept Willy Northpole that Serius got kicked off DTP because he had an attitude.

Serius Jones:(Laughs) Hey man if wanting to be treated like a star and be given the proper attention and the right push from somebody who is my so called boss and my record label means I have an attitude then damn right I got an attitude. I just wanted to be treated like an artists should be treated and that’s definitely not something that was happening over at that label. I’m not going to speculate on it too much but it’s almost like when you break up with a girl. You not going to tell people it’s my fault, I couldn’t handle her. You’re going to say it was her fault. If they are saying that it’s funny to me.You know what I’m sayin’? Anybody who knows me knows that no matter how much shit I talk or how arrogant I might be with my artistry or my music or whatever they know that I’m a real rational and down to earth kind of person.

There’s a lot of negative shit that I could say about a lot of people but I choose not to do that and everybody knows that controversy is what sells today and I still won’t do it. Regardless of what I’m doing though there are always people who are going to have something to say and I know that and I accept it.

Sixshot.com: All right bro, so tell us what you have coming up that we can look out for.

Serius Jones: I got Serius Business coming out which is like another independent street album that I’ll be releasing in September. I also got King Me which is being considered a classic and not just by me. Go on the internet. Read the reviews and the blogs and all that. Like I said I also got Life is Serius, which is a short film, like a half hour long. I got all kind of stuff in there from me spittin’ to chicks getting naked. My mom and pops are in it. It’s really like the story of my life. It’s like an abbreviated version. I’m also working on a TV show, which is based on the grind a person has to put in if they want to try and make it in the rap game. It’s following me like a day in the life of Serius Jones. I got a lot of projects going on man. I’m working hard and staying busy. I’m back on the grind. I’m all over the mixtapes so just look out for me.

Sixshot.com: Anything you’d like to say to your fans out there?

I appreciate all the love and support. I appreciate everybody taking the time to come check me out. Go to my Myspace page at www.myspace.com/seriusjones and www.Getserius.com coming soon.